Hoplodactylus duvaucelii

Description

A physically robust species with a thick head, large trunk and tail. The largest of New Zealand’s geckos reaching up to 160mm in length. The back is olive brown to olive green with pale and irregular crossbar shaped splotches down the back, usually from the nape of the neck to the base of the tail. The underside is paler than the back, usually a pale uniform grey but can be softly blotched. Duvaucel’s gecko have a pink mouth and tongue. The forehead is slightly concave with yellow eyes and large oval openings for the ears.

Duvaucel’s gecko have a high number of lamallae on the feet with long toes (lamallae are a structure on the footpads which allow adhesion onto surfaces). Cloacal spurs (an outgrowth of bone serving primarily as a grip during mating) are arranged in a series of 3-4, with pre cloacal spurs extending in a narrow series along the underside of the thighs.

There is some regional variation with the northern form generally being larger and more robust. The southern form are brighter and have more well defined blotched markings.

Vocalisation of Duvaucel’s gecko has been variously described as squeaks, squeals, croaking and coughing.

Life expectancy

Duvaucel’s gecko are an extremely long lived species with ages of up to 50 years reported.

Distribution

Duvaucel’s gecko were once widespread throughout New Zealand, unfortunately due to the impact of human settlement and the introduction of predatory mammals, the species are now restricted to 36 offshore islands along the east coast and in the Cook Strait. They inhabit forests, bluffs, cliffs, and coastlines in lowland areas.

Ecology and habitat

A largely nocturnal species, Duvaucel’s gecko can remain active at low temperatures but actively regulate their body temperature by sun basking. During the day they tend to hide in tree hollows, under logs, stones or bark, rock crevices or petrel burrows.

Social structure

Duvaucel’s gecko are tolerant of members of the same species and form social groups of 2-8, groups usually contain only one male.

Breeding biology

Duvaucel’s gecko give birth to live young and have a low annual reproductive output. Gestation has been variously reported as between 5 months to longer than a year. Individuals become sexually mature at about 7 years old.

Diet

The diet of Duvaucel’s gecko is largely insectivorous, however, they will also eat plant material, nectar, and fruit. There are records of Duvaucel’s gecko predating upon other lizards and the eggs of shearwaters.

Disease

Duvaucel’s gecko harbour a number of ecto and endoparasites (internal and external). It is important to note that healthy reptiles can host a number of parasites with no observable adverse effects on the health of the animal, however, in certain cases parasitism can lead to vomiting, weight loss, tissue damage, secondary bacterial infection, or in serious cases anaemia or dysecdysis (difficulty sloughing skin).

Duvaucel’s gecko are at risk of metabolic bone disease (MBD) when held in captivity. It is crucial that animals in captivity have access to enough UV light and certain minerals (refer to our health and husbandry section for more information).

Conservation strategy

DOC (the NZ Department of Conservation) have classified Duvaucel’s gecko as ‘relict’, with a population of >20,000 mature individuals and a stable or increasing population (>10%). A number of translocation projects have already taken place to establish populations of Duvaucel’s gecko on pest free off shore islands. There is also a breed for release programme in place.

Interesting notes

The species were erroneously named after Alfred Duvaucel, a French naturalist who explored India. Museum specimens taken to London were credited to him, only later were the animals found to have come from New Zealand.